Why You Need A Website?

Like many small business owners, you may believe your business cannot benefit from having a website or that a website is not within your budget. Or maybe you think because you don’t use a computer, neither do your potential customers. These are misconceptions. These 8 reasons show why your company NEEDS a professional website, no matter what size your business.

1. A PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE WILL GIVE YOUR SMALL BUSINESS MORE CREDIBILITY

Today, more and more consumers use the internet to search for the products or services they need. Your small business will gain credibility by having a professional website. Without a website at all, potential customers will go to your competitors that do. If you already have a website but it is “home-made”, having it professionally redesigned will provide your business with a professional online image that will inspire even greater confidence in your product or service. For home-based businesses, this is especially beneficial since you do not have a store front to promote your products or services.

2. A PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE SAVES YOU MONEY

As a small business owner you probably think you can’t afford a professional website, but you can’t afford NOT to. Although the cost of designing a website varies, once it’s up and running, a website for a small business can cost less than $100 a month, especially if you have a CMS and update your own web content. If you’re tech-savvy, and can do your own maintenance, it could cost as little as $20 (for domain name renewal and web-hosting). Compared with the cost of a newspaper ad, TV & radio commercials, mailshots, and print campaigns, when you consider the potential market you can reach with a website, it is a very cost-effective way to promote your business.

3. IT WILL ENABLE YOU TO KEEP YOUR CUSTOMERS INFORMED

Think of your website as being your online brochure or catalog. It is much easier and quicker to update information about your products and services on your website than in print material, making it an effective way of letting your customers know about the arrival of new products, upcoming events, special promotions, or any new services you now offer. Unlike print ads which quickly become outdated, your website can provide current information and news.

4. A WEBSITE IS ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE

If you have a website, it is available 24/7/365 providing convenience to both customers and prospects. A website enables them to review your products and services when your store or office is closed. With today’s busy lifestyles and the number of people that look online for things they need, this is a huge selling point when they are making a purchase decision.

5. A WEBSITE MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO TARGET A WIDER MARKET

Whether you provide products or services, your website will provide an alternative location to sell them. As a retailer, having a website (eCommerce) means you can sell your products to a wider market, you’re not limited to just your local area. Even if you offer services, they can be made available globally by having a website. If you don’t think you can sell your products or services online, remember, even clothes, shoes, cars and houses sell online!

6. IT PROVIDES A MEDIUM ON WHICH TO SHOWCASE YOUR WORK

No matter what type of business you’re in, a website is a great place to showcase your work. By including a portfolio or image gallery, as well as testimonials about your work, you can demonstrate what makes your business unique. Not only that, but you can update your portfolio much more cheaply than a printed brochure.

7. A WEBSITE SAVES YOU TIME

Providing information to your customers takes time, whether it’s on the phone, face-to-face, in a brochure, or in emails. With an online brochure, catalog or magazine you can provide lots of information about your products and services. Once your website is up and running, it is available to your customers indefinitely, saving you a ton of time. And what is time? Time is money!

8. A WEBSITE CAN IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE

Maybe you sell environmentally friendly products and would like to share tips on how to recycle, or perhaps you’re an accountant and want to give your clients advice on how to simplify their bookkeeping practices. By including a FAQ page, adding articles or uploading newsletters to answer all your customers’ questions, you can keep them up-to-date. What better way to provide them with value added service than by sharing information on your website.

This post originally appeared on our previous website KazDesignWorks.ca in 2008. Having found several websites copying the text from this post verbatim, it was updated/reworded slightly on March 2nd 2018 to avoid duplication on the internet. We also added a new post here that is an expanded version of this post and includes an additional reason reason why your business needs a professional website.